Let me start off by saying that I couldn't be more happier with the fact that Mrs. Reed finally died; I mean what a bitch. How could you get any meaner? A girl you mistreated her entire life comes back to help you in a time of need and you return to her a cold shoulder and nothing but sarcastic, vicious comments. I couldn't believe that Mrs. Reed didn't have a change of heart at the end. I was certain that she would. One will also note that both Eliza and Georgiana are still rude and discrimatory towards Jane. Perhaps Bronte left them this way to show the snobbish arrogance of the upper class; saying that riches count for nothing but kindness and love counts for everything.
The next topic I would like to land on is the extreme tense changes going on throughout the book. One may have noticed that every time Jane either observes or encounters Rochester, in an important scene, the tense changes from past to present. Why is this? Perhaps it is to entwine the reader more and get one more involved. May Jane wants to get you closer to show how close she is to Rochester.
Chapter XXIII is a very entertaining and important chapter. Jane finally blows her cover after all of Rochester's taunting and teasing. Yet after this happens and Rochester admits that he wishes for her to stay she is incredulous and rebellious. This vividly reminds the reader of earlier in the book when Jane is put into the red-room. Feelings of emotion burst out of her that she can no longer control. She lets loose and "speak[s]" (291). Just as when she expressed her hatred to Mrs. Reed, she expresses her love to Rochester. The meeting of the two is very well contrasted by the meeting of moonrise and sunset; Rochester being the sun, and Jane the moon. However, Bronte ends the chapter with a bolt of lightening destroying the horse chestnut. Perhaps this portends bad things to come. Who knows; we will have to continue to read.
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4 comments:
Good post! I'm particularly impressed by your observation that tense shifts--especially the use of the present tense--seem to signal especially important events in the novel. As for Mrs. Reed, she does, in a sense, 'confess' to Jane (and this may constitute something of a change of heart). You seem to give short shrift to Chapter XXIII--Rochester hasn't just asked her to stay, he's proposed marriage! And just what do you suppose that chestnut tree portends?
Mrs. Reed is a bitch isn't she? I, like you, was hoping she would have...well, I don't know, maybe found the spot in her heart where she's always loved Jane or something. But of course, some people just don't change. I think it was strong of Jane to forgive her aunt for all the hardship she's given her.
Bitch please. I like how you made the contrast between Mr. Rochester being the sun and Jane being the moon. Nice.
Very insightful post, Walker. I am bedazzled by your findings in this book. You have picked up on many important, yet hidden pieces of this book; the tense shift is a great example of this. Great work pally.
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